From the Archives: A Trimester 2020

By Chloe Chooi

Reasons I decided to go on Exchange:

Aside from my birth country and New Zealand, I have never travelled out of country
and was curious at the thought of going abroad. The people who went on exchange at the Waikato OE information sessions all said it was a great time and a fun, new
experience no matter the country they went to. So I decided to work part time, save
up and make exchange happen for me too!
Initially my first choice was Hong Kong, but I am extremely grateful that I was
placed to Nanyang Technological University in Singapore. The people working under
OGEM (Exchange office at NTU) were very understanding and accommodating — I
was able to stay on campus when I was no longer on student pass after my flight was
cancelled. It was such an amazing, unforgettable experience especially under
Covid-19.

Ways it changed my life:

I chose Singapore because it was next to Malaysia (my birth country), so at least the
food was something I would be used to. The culture was different — from Malaysia
and definitely from New Zealand! As NTU usually has a lot of incoming exchange
students, I was given the opportunity to meet many people from different countries
and cultures. I learnt that curiosity, kindness and being open-minded made way for a
more easygoing and happy experience with the people I met. I also learned a lot of
Singlish and that public transport is amazingly convenient in Singapore.
As I was alone and knew no one at the beginning, I was more open-minded and
willing to get out of my comfort zone to make friends. Exchange changed my
mindset in the sense whereby treating the place we came from, with the same
curiosity and open mind (just like a new country) would lead us to having even more
fulfilling relationships and life experience in general. Being open-minded and going
with the flow lead me to having such a fun experience with a lot of firsts that I
otherwise would not previously have had in New Zealand.
Going it alone also taught me to become more independent in the form of “adulting”
such as travel and health insurance, filling in a myriad of documents and having the
patience and the sanity to keep going. There were times of homesickness and feeling
alone/empty even though everything was great. The change in routine (such as being
out at 11pm to even 4am that one time) was not something I was used to but it was a
new way of life (nightlife) I am grateful to have experienced.
I think going on exchange is something everyone would have to experience for
themselves to know what it feels like for them. It is a chance to create good memories
with people from different parts of the world in a foreign setting. Under the impact of
Covid-19 and going through the Circuit Breaker (a sort of semi-lockdown period) in
Singapore was stressful and emotional at times. The whole exchange experience to
sum it up gave me a lot of personal awareness and growth. The memories I made
with all the people I met is something that I would always hold dear to my heart.

Things that were unexpected:

1) Taxi from the airport was cheaper than I expected
It was around 30SGD from one end of Singapore to the other. NTU is very
far west and Changi airport is on the east side of Singapore. Singapore felt
very big and complex when I first arrived but later, I realised the entire
country’s land size is smaller than Auckland. Other car services include Grab
which can be booked through an app — they take international debit visa
cards (may be the same for credit).
2) Starhub offers better (faster) data service than say, M1.
I would suggest getting Starhub if you are a big data user. I found it very
convenient to always have more than enough data when going out. I do not
have to worry about looking for wifi when searching for directions, and being
able to stay in contact with friends — since WhatsApp is what we all
commonly used. My friend who’s a Singaporean had an M1 plan, and his
data was always loading.
3) NTU is HUGE compared to university of Waikato.
It’s big to the point that they have two bus lines around campus. The bus lines
reach the same points but go in opposing directions, so you can choose which
bus is the shortest route depending on where you are and your destination.
They are called Campus Red and Campus Blue. Public buses also go inside
campus and can take you outside campus. (Be careful, my friend and I once
took the 199 out of campus when we wanted to go to a canteen! It’s scary in
the beginning when you don’t know anything.) The useful apps for knowing
the bus stops and timings are NTU GO and U-Wave App. Please allocate
thirty minutes prior to class time (the first few times) in case you get lost,
which you most likely will (kidding, but not really).
They have many canteens, and each canteen has many stalls of different
foods you can try. The Hall 11 Malay stall sells Nasi Lemak for $3 on
Fridays (when I went anyway), and it’s amazing with samba!! There is so
much more I can write but we have no space. The aunties at the food stalls
are very kind, some I encountered were a bit loud and straightforward
however they all mean well. The drink Teh (Hot ver.) and Teh bing (cold ver.
= bing meaning ice) is very nice and sweet — it’s tea with condense/
carnation milk.
There are gyms at certain hall clusters too. I usually go to North Hill Gym as
it was the closest to me. It is free and as far as I know (during the Covid-19
period) exclusive to NTU students only.
4) Under your student’s pass, NTU will provide you with health insurance
(which is calculated as part of your student’s fees everyone is required to pay
for).
A trip to the doctor on campus is roughly only 3SGD for ten visits, which is
more than enough. It is wise to have travel insurance outside of the NTU
insurance, especially circumstances such as an unexpected pandemic or
loosing your wallet (which happened to a friend). It is also safer when
travelling neighbouring countries such as Thailand and Malaysia (Johor
Bahru, Penang, Kuala Lumpur) to know you are covered.
5) UOB ATM has better currency rate to draw cash compared to OCBC for
example.
I have always stuck to using UOB, there’s one of these ATMs by Lee Wee Nam
Library (North Spine) at NTU, and Jurong Point (JP) Mall when you take the
199 bus from campus to the end stop (JP Bus Interchange). They charged me
less overall even though NZD is at a loss compared to SGD (at the time of
writing this). An exchange rate of 0.88-0.89 is the best one can get.
6) Most MRT stops are likely connected to a mall, or at least very close to one.
There are malls everywhere. Jurong Point mall is the closest to NTU. That was
where the Student Union team took us on our shopping tour (before semester
started) so we could get essential items such as body wash, laundry detergent, a
pillow etc.
7) The food: Singapore has a lot of gelato and frozen yoghurt stalls, but I rarely
see ice cream ones.
There is a lot of good food in areas that may not be so obvious, such as a Hong
Kong restaurant in Mongkok street at JP (near Fairprice – the supermarket
exchange students were first brought to). Hawker centres are also a dream
come true! They are similar to canteens at NTU but hawker centres are all over
Singapore, and their food is very authentic and delicious. Singapore has a lot of
other cuisines including Mexican, Korean and Japanese. They tend to be big on
Japanese food — (Speaking of which, note down Don Don Donki
okonomiyaki at JCube if you are keen).
8) STARS may stress you out if you cannot get into the courses you want or need
Don’t be afraid to email the professor for a course and ask to be placed in. Be
sincere, polite and respectful. Sometimes you get lucky! Depending on
availability and quota per course. I had that happen for one of my courses and
my friend got into a course that was actually not opened to exchange
students. She did not give up, and neither should you (ask respectfully of
course :)).
After all your courses are finalised, do not forget to email the Credit Office
back at Waikato so they can confirm your cross crediting. If you forget
this stage, your courses may not be considered as an eligible substitute for the
papers back at UoW for your degree.

Advice about Travel/Visas:

I know visas are not required if you are a New Zealand passport holder entering
Singapore as that was my situation. I am not quite sure about international students
or permanent residents so I would double check on Singapore’s ICA (Immigration &
Checkpoints Authority) website.
Unfortunately, I do not have much information for travelling neighbouring countries
as I personally considered it unsafe to do so under Covid-19. The friends that did
travel at the time would book flights on Scoot. I heard it was better to go in a small
group rather than a large one so it is safer to have someone with you, and not so
hassling that everyone has to cater to everyone in a large group.

People, Friends, and Locals:

Okay, I think the section on unexpected things or things I did not realise had a lot of
information already so the rest of the sections would most likely be short. Singapore
gives me the impression of a very busy city and people can be naturally stressed from
that. Some locals may be considered unfriendly, I had some encounters myself.
When I was lost on a level at the airport one time with no one at the reception, I
asked a passing couple for directions and got yelled at. One factor to that though
could be because I am Malaysian Chinese, so I look like a local and is expected to
know how to get around. The other factor could be because they are older and less
patient. Otherwise, everyone is usually friendly and willing to help — especially the
students at NTU if you are lost around campus.
There are foreigners around touristy places such as Arab Street and Gardens by the
Bay. There are also many teachers at NTU from all different parts of the world, so
from what I experienced, Singapore is quite diverse.

The general cost of living:

The cost of living as an exchange student is affordable in terms of hall stay and food.
Food is cheap, especially at the many canteens at NTU (Canteen 2, Pioneer Hall
Canteen, Tamarind Hall, Hall 11 Canteen, North Spine and South Spine). Personally,
I never cooked once in Singapore. It all depends on your budget and how much you
have saved. I would recommend applying for scholarships as well for extra support
just in case!

Cultural differences in Singapore from a Kiwi perspective:

Academics: Group work is very common at NTU. The expectation is that the roles of
who does what is divided among the group members, and you get that part done on
time on your own. The best thing about this is that (depending on the course), you can
provide feedback at the end regarding the contribution of each group member — and
the lecturer grades with this feedback in mind. Even though it is a pass-fail grade
when you come back to your home university, it feels good knowing you did your
best and got a decent grade at one of the highest world-ranking universities.
Also, the local students know that most exchange students come to study with a passfail grade back home — and are therefore likely to put less effort into group
projects whereas their own grades are on the line. This stigma makes them avoid or hesitant to work with you as an exchange student, but group projects are common and the world needs to keep spinning. Pulling your weight, doing your best, and sincerely getting to know your group members are the best ways to build local friendships and connections.
Make them aware of this stereotype that exchange students usually
contribute less due to pass-fail, and they will be more at ease to work with you
providing you care about the end grade for them as well. It’s rewarding for both you
and them when you do your best no matter what!
People: You will likely make friends with exchange students from all different
countries as well as local students in Singapore. I found that I spent the most time
with my exchange group because we explored Singapore and the university together.
We met up between classes and ate at canteens together. My point is, as an exchange
student, you will probably spend more time with all kinds of people rather than just
Singaporeans. Cultural differences aren’t too much of a difference in terms of
communication if you speak English. Being open-minded ensures a fun time. I would
say follow your intuition, have boundaries to make sure you feel comfortable and
safe, yet go out and do things that excite you out of your comfort zone!
Safety and Place: Singapore appreciates responsible and respectful behaviour —
such as the law saying no drinking publicly past 10pm (Please double-check the laws
at the time you go). Littering and jaywalking are also highly discouraged through
fines if you get caught. Just like how we New Zealanders don’t like tourists that dirty
our beaches and parks, Singapore is also the same except they are more practical —
and make it a part of the law to discourage that behaviour. There are designated areas
for smoking that are more secluded from public areas. There are also a lot of cameras
from MRT stations to inside the trains to even your classrooms, so just do your best
to be an informed, respectful visitor and things should be fine. All this may sound
strict, but I found myself feeling very safe in Singapore because everyone was very
civil and mindful of others and the public space.
One possible scary thing to mention — I have heard news of cameras being placed in
the hall bathrooms by sick people. However, it is not as common at NTU (as it is at
NUS so I’ve heard) anymore because they have cameras outside to see who goes in
and out. The levels as far as I know are divided by gender — so the bathrooms on
each level are typically for girls one level, then boys the next level. Be careful and
check for little holes in bathrooms just in case.
Another unexpected visitor may be lizards coming into your bedroom. Small ones,
but because the weather is hot, they may sneak into your rooms. This is where
making friends or having a roommate comes in handy. The type of hall stay also
matters as some are villa type and some are similar to hotels and are higher ground
away from this issue. I liked my villa-type hall but I was also unfortunate (Hall 10).
On that note, we don’t get to choose our halls (at the time of writing), and the price of
accommodation (per month) depends on the hall that you are assigned.

We organised to dress in NTU shirts as two members of our exchange group had to
leave Singapore early due to the Covid-19 situation. We enjoyed a nice dinner at the
canteen downstairs before coming upstairs to take group goodbye photos.

This made me laugh when I saw it again. Even though I remember the feeling that all
of us wished our exchange hadn’t been cut short, we still made jokes and had a
fun time!

Aside from my main exchange group of friends, I also made friends with some
Chinese students who were also on exchange. In this photo, I came to have lunch
with Lexi (in a floral dress on your left) and her friends before she went back to
Canada. We all got ramen and I was pleasantly surprised that they came in boiling
pots!
The girl in yellow is May, a Malaysian international student. I was fortunate enough
that we became close friends even after all my exchange friends left Singapore. Now,
she’s one of the reasons I need to get back there!

This was in the tunnel where we could see sharks swimming at S.E.A. Aquarium at
Sentosa. Our heads bumped into the glass as we hopped onto the ledge, and you can
see my one friend Sean (second from your left), who’s struggling a bit.

This was one of my favourite photos taken when a large group of us met up at Arab
Street. At night, there’s this narrow lane that comes to life with an outdoor bar setup,
live music, and colourful dreamcatchers hanging from above. Many tourists visit this
place and I personally bumped into a Kiwi my first time there! We requested
songs when the singers took requests, and danced our hearts out with everybody else.

This was earlier in the exchange on Chinese New Year when the Covid situation was
still not as serious. We spent the day at a local friend’s house — Shruthi, who hosted
us with delicious Indian food and a fun time! (She’s just not in this photo). Here, we
watched the Chinese New Year fireworks and chose our dinner at one of the many
stalls set up for the yearly Chinese New Year fireworks event.

This was one of my favourite kind of moments I remember on exchange. We all have
classes but still have an active group chat involving — “Who wants bubble tea?” or
“We’re chilling at insert place”. We meet up sometimes only with one person or a
whole group depending on who makes it. We enjoy meals, study together (even if we
have completely different subjects!), and usually go hang out somewhere for the
night time.